In its efforts to promote the use of sustainable and climate friendly energy, the European Union (EU) approved a project for the development of a Micro-Hydropower System on the Chiung River, Kato in Region Eight, Guyana. In a statement, the EU said the financing agreement for the project has since been dispatched by the EU delegation in Guyana to the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who acts as the National Authorising Officer (NAO) for the EU funded programmes in Guyana. A public signing ceremony to officially launch the project is expected to follow in the near future between the NAO and the head of delegation of the European Union in Guyana.
The total cost of the project is pegged at €2,455,797 (approximately Gy$ 615 million) with the EU contributing €1,841,848 (G$ 460 million) under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) while the Guyana government will contribute €613,949 (Gy$ 154 million).
As part of the government’s broader hinterland electrification programme, the system will comprise a 330 kilowatt micro-hydro power station with its primary energy source being the 36metre head water fall in the Chiung River, in the vicinity of Kato village. Sufficient generating capacity for electrical services are to be provided to a secondary school complex to be constructed by the Ministry of Education, existing government buildings such as the nursery/primary schools, the guest house, the police outpost, medical facilities, school dormitories and to also facilitate agro processing and commercial farming.
Furthermore, the system will provide electricity to Paramakatoi through a 16 km transmission line which forms part of the intervention.
The waterfalls on the Chiung River, Region Eight which is expected to power the hydro system that is being funded by the European Union
It is expected that the government will fast track the construction of the secondary school facility, which is a pre- condition for the investment to be made. The secondary school is fore seen to be the main electricity consumer and as such, forms the basis for feasibility of the investment.
Head of Delegation of the European Union in Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký remarked: “he anticipates the speedy commencement of the construction phase of the system and hopes that the construction deadlines can be achieved without any major hiccups”. He further emphasised that, “he project embodies initiatives under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), while ex pressing hope that similar sustainable energy uses could be employed especially for the hinterland regions”. The construction phase is expected to begin in February 2013 and be completed by February 2015.
